Sugar Snap Peas

Cl. Panic gave me two sugar nap pea plants about a month ago and they have now doubled in size. I created a scaffolding out of coffee stirrer sticks using Coach Nelson's glue gun. They look so happy! Soon, they will be ready for harvest and we can sneak them into hot pot!

Update (3/9/2010):


Update (3/11/2010):
OMG! My first sugar snap pea has arrived!!


Update (3/15/2010):
Three more peas have come in! Earmarked for L. Woods, Cl. Panic, and Green Thumbs. See if you can find them!


Update (3/16/2010):
Oh, no! My peas have competition! Below are Cl. Panic's peas. Note the net. It is from Daiso, the Japanese dollar store. The peas are looking great. I expect Cl. Panic to bring in a yummy sugar snap pea salad soon.

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My New Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Mr. Nonny Nu will hate me for this because he hates cherries, but I love cherries and my favorite ice cream flavor is Baskin-Robbins' Cherries Jubilee. Coach Nelson and I went to get some dumplings for lunch today and, as is our custom, we visit the local BR for dessert. I'm not much for chocolate and definitely not for white chocolate, but I love me some fruit. In the past, I have stuck with the sherbets. The last time I went, I got the Very Berry Strawberry. But, this time, I wanted something different. I had always shied away from the Cherries Jubilee because of the hint of rum (as you all know, I don't do alkeehall because I'm allergic), but I went for it today. It was great! Chock full of plump cherries! Mild cherry flavor in the ice cream itself. Loved it. I'm gonna order that again next time.

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Happy Easter, Party People!

(Artwork courtesy of Coach Nelson.)

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Sammich Chirality

I know that this blog entry is going to pull on the heartstrings of many, but most people are going to be too embarrassed to admit that they have the same problem. The problem? Sammich chirality.

There is a concept in science (Chemistry, in particular) called "chirality." Chirality is the existence of two molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. [What the gall-darned trash is she screamin' 'bout now? *places banjo on lap* *sucks on a straw* --Mr. Nonny Nu] The classic illustration that is used in Chemistry classrooms all over the world is the hand illustration. We can see chirality in our hands. They are mirror images of each other, but you cannot superimpose one upon the other. See here?

Okay, now, also in science (Chemistry, in particular) is something known as sandwich chirals. Now, I only got through basic college organic chemistry so I have no clue what the hell that is. You're on your own on that one.

But, mark this day as the day that Nonny Nu coined the term "sammich chirality," a variation of which is "sando chirality." *winks at Coach Nelson*

Alright. Sammich chirality--what is it? Believe it or not, this is a harder concept to explain than molecular chirality!! It applies to sammiches that are roll-based as opposed to slice-based. When you have a slice-based sammich, it doesn't matter how you eat it because it's open on all sides. You can spin that thing around, but when you bring it to your mouth, something is going to be dropping out of the bottom of that sammich. Okay, you get the idea. That's the problem with slice-based sammiches. Now, roll-based sammiches are a different matter. The nice thing about them is that they are closed on one side, thus limiting the leakage of the good parts of the sammich--the filling. Admittedly, you can't stuff as much into a roll-based sammich as you can a slice-based sammich, but there is really no substitute for that secure feeling you get with a roll-based sammich. Sometimes, though, people get greedy or lazy and they slice a roll all the way through, thus turning it into a slice and producing a slice-based sammich from a perfectly good roll. Those people are never welcome in my home.

Okay, so what have we learned about sammich chirality so far? Only that it applies to roll-based and not slice-based sammiches. We are now ready to actually view sammich chirality in all its splendor:



All I have done is taken a photo of a Lee's #5 sammich (above left) and made a mirror but non-superimposable image of it (above right). This, folks, is sammich chirality. Just like our hands, roll-based sammiches are chiral.

But, why should we care? Well, just like people, roll-based sammiches have an evil twin. You see, depending on your sammich eating habits, you are going to favor either the righty sammich (at right) or the lefty sammich (at left). Keep in mind that, with roll-based sammiches, you are supposed to position the closed side of the sammich downward. If you are right handed, you are more likely to tilt your head to the left, put your left hand under the sammich and steady the sammich with your right hand. If you are left handed, you are more likely to tilt your head to the right, put your right hand under the sammich and steady the sammich with your left hand. Try it right now! See?

So, when a right handed person (like me) encounters a lefty sammich, that just spells trouble. Now, the person has to tilt their head to the right, put their right hand under the sammich, and steady the sammich with their left hand, which is completely the opposite of what that right handed person is naturally inclined to do! Of course, they could turn their lefty sammich into a righty by flipping it so that the bottom of the roll faces the sky or start munching on the non-cut end of it, but who is willing to do that? Not me.

My sammich chirality problem is compounded by the fact that I grew up sitting to the television's stage right.* So, I was literally raised to eat with my head tilted to my left. Now, every time I get a lefty sammich, it almost kills all the joy of the sammich. I wish that there was an option to order lefty or righty sammiches, like there are options to order something with or without pickles. You wouldn't have to waste the rolls. After you sliced the roll in half, you'd just split them open on opposite edges like so to get two righty sammiches out of a single roll:



* Note that MonkeyPig chose to block herself into the corner so that she wouldn't have to get up to refill people's rice bowls. This is her regular practice. Even to this day, she will block herself in at restaurants and people's homes so that she doesn't have to get up in the middle of a meal to help out.

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(ch-ch-ch-)Chia! (updated 03/31)

Check this out, dudes! I am starting a Chia herb garden in my office. I am growing basil, cilantro, chives, and parsley. Coach Nelson promised to make lasagna with the parsley if the project is a success. I started this project (with the help of Stubbie's Godmother) on Jan. 28.




Feb. 1: Only four days later, the basil and the cilantro are already starting to sprout!

Feb. 5: Basil and Cilantro continue their stellar progress. Parsley is just starting to take root, but something's up with Chives (check out the white powder).

Feb. 6: Ah. False alarm on the Chives. Parsley is also coming up. I guess I'm a bit of a Henny Penny on plants.

Mar. 31: Chives are officially a bust. Cilantro is only doing okay, but Basil and Parsley are great. Coach Nelson has confirmed the lasagna plan.

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It's time to pay up.

Remember when I resolved during the Thanksgiving season to just eat like a pig until the start of the new year when I restart my running regimen? Well, the time has come to make good on the promise. The beginning of the year brought a lot of rains to the Northern California area, and it has began to clear up only recently. So, today, I took my new pedometer out for a little test run. I only did 2 miles, but I think I went at a pretty good clip. Plus, I checked the accuracy of my pedometer every half a mile (one way down to the end of the street is half a mile--Dolly confirmed this). My stride length is 90cm. I'm all set for tomorrow! Coach Nelson will be less upset with me now.

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Hello, Dolly!

We have a new addition to the Nu family--Dolly! She is a 2008 Ford Fusion SEL. Many people (e.g., Coach Nelson, MonkeyPig, etc.) have been expressing reservations about Jolly Green Giant (my old 1995 Infiniti G20), so Mr. Nonny Nu got me Dolly. I am all set to start work tomorrow!

Dolly is a pretty girl. Here's a three-quarter view. Come closah!!* This is what she looks like from the side. Not only does Dolly have a pretty face, she also has a nice ass; definitely not a wide load. Okay, maybe she does have a little junk in the trunk.

But, Dolly isn't just beautiful on the outside. She's also beautiful on the inside. Here she is from the passenger side. Look at that stitching! I love that feature. It really ties in the black interior with the "white suede" exterior. The dash is user friendly, but I don't really need to go there much since there is an automatic climate control (which I have set to 70 degrees) and the steering wheel has the audio controls built in. The instrument panel is pretty cool, imo, and has green backlighting.

Plus, the back seat is pretty comfy. They also fold down, in case I need to haul a giant carrot. And, I love, love, love the moon roof. I think Dolly will be perfect for when I have passengers who need to check their eyeliner, or those pesky backseat drivers, or both!

(Photos of Nonny Nu made possible by my trusty assistant.)

* A la Mr. Hinkie (for South Park fans).

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Happy Birthday, Stubbie's Godmother!!

Please join me in wishing Stubbie's Godmother a very happy birthday!! She is turning mid-twenties today (I won't tell you exactly how old because I don't know myself!!). What a wonderful little girl, always cheerful, always helpful, and always willing to put in a verbal jab here and there. Some would call her perfect. I am still mulling that one over. (Check back for updates on that one!)

Anyhow, Coach Nelson (who moonlights as workspace decorator) did a wonderful job setting up the birthday location for Stubbie's Godmother.

Happy Birthday, Stubbie's Godmother! Enjoy it while you can!!

P.S. That isn't the birthday cake. That's just some photo I found on the web. But, can you believe some people are so serious and hoity toity as to quote Shakespeare on a birthday cake? No doubt, they will be having wine with it. *eyes*

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Kitty Korner (11/27)

Well, it's settled. We'll have to move. You wouldn't think that, between the two of these kitties, the smaller, plainer girl kitten would be the ring leader, but that is how things have turned out. Skillet, though she possesses the innocent, I'm-just-a-little-girl expression, is constantly up to no good. We live in a two story house, and the balcony overlooks the stairwell. The balcony is really just a waist-high wall. Mr. Nonny Nu has long been worried that Skillet would jump onto and over the wall and plummet to her death in the stairwell. I, being the optimistic fool that I am, didn't think she would do it.

Lo and behold, she was found sitting on the waist-high wall this weekend. She was immediately yelled at, and appeared to regret her poor choice of sunning area, but this evening, I found her sitting in the same place again. Of course, I yelled at her, but I fully expect to see her there in the near future. We have placed pillows on the ground where we project she might land, if she were to jump over the waist-high wall. But, of course, she could just land onto the hard floor below.

Kash, on the other hand, is a complete sweetheart. Of course, he has gotten into his share of trouble, but he isn't as naughty as she is. Recently, he pulled down our "Christmas tree." It's not a real Christmas tree. A few years ago, we moved into this house around Christmas time, and since we were so busy moving in, we didn't have any time to get a real Christmas tree and ornaments. So, we started a tradition of using the silk tree as a Christmas tree, and then buying only one ornament each year from Walgreens. The first year was a glass house-like ornament. The second year was a John Deere tractor (Coach Nelson and Stubbie's Godmother knows all about my obsession with those). The third year was a Sushi look-alike. Well, when Kash pulled down the Christmas tree a few days ago, he broke the first year's glass house-like ornament. GAH! But, he's still my little boy. He's so sweet! Here he is trying to find his way in the restaurant business (that's a McDonald's bag):
Pic 1
Pic 2

But these two are worrisome. Kash has a (possible) chlamydia infection in his eyes and has to have eye ointment put right into his eyes three times a day. And, both he and Skillet have ringworm (a fungal skin infection), so they have to their ringworm spots cleaned twice a day. They aren't too bad, just irritated areas. But still, you know? I feel like I broke my toys.

Anyhow, I know this next thing should belong in the backyard petting zoo section, but here's a better photo of our pet raccoon:

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Message from Coach Nelson

She disapproves.

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I'm Moving!

We are building out the office and there will soon be a mad musical chairs routine going on where people are moved closer to their secretaries and what not. Offices have already been assigned. My current office is TOTALLY AWESOME. It's right near the back stairs so I can sneak in and out without being noticed. Yet, there are a lot of people who also take the back stairs so all my friends come by and say hello/goodbye when they come/go. Also, the plants really enjoy all the afternoon light that my side of the building gets. The only one who could use a change of scenery is Stubbie. He does get a bit toasty in the afternoons.

This morning, I went to check out my new office. Sadly, it's one of those offices where there's a column in the middle of the back wall. The window, which would have run the full length of the office is now split in two. Plus, since the column is sticking out two feet from the window (I just now borrowed a tape measure from one of the construction crew, snuck into the office, and measured it--YES, I'M STILL WORKING AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT), there may be furniture problems.

But, you know what? I'm going to make this work for me. There is definite potential in this office. Previous occupants have approached it with a defeatist, well-I-guess-I'm-stuck-with-this-crap-office attitude and have tried to work around the architecture of the place instead of embracing it and really incorporating its unique features into the whole floorplan. No, this shall not continue. I'm going to make this office the JEWEL of ##### XYZ Boulevard, Suit NNN, City, California, 9####. Just you wait and see.

Anyhow, as I said, I measured the new office. I will circulate a map of the office shortly and you guys can tell me your ideas on how to arrange the office. I hope I can fit in a little armchair area. I'm planning on using the column as a "gallery" area where I will hang a painting. Then, I will probably put Stubbie on the side of the column so that the column will give him some shade from the morning sun (that side of the office is rumored to have morning instead of afternoon sun, especially when the axis shifts in the winter time). Also, that side of the column is the same side as the door, so people can see Stubbie as they are walking by. See? It's already working out.

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Where in the World is Nonny San Diego?

Working, that's where! I have really neglected the blog as well as my running and hiking. Coach Nelson and Stillman are completely disappointed in me, I know. I spent Saturday and today working, which means that, if my internet stalker is true to his word of stalking only on Saturdays, he will work all day next Saturday as well.

But, you know what? My plants are really starting to sprout! At least I was here to see them take their first steps. Also, Stubbie didn't have to spend another weekend with nothing to eat.

So, what do you guys think? Is this blog going to die off? Or, is Nonny Nu going to hang on by a string and barely eek by?

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Dudes, check out my new Sketchers!

What do you think? I usually wear size 7 sneakers, but these are size 6 1/2, so I have to wear thin socks with them. But, they turned out to be pretty comfy. The laces are kind of slippery so they kept coming undone. I had to double knot them, and they were fine after that.

The Sketchers were a perfect match for Coach Nelson's Lola! Lola is at times quiet, and at times peppy. She could barely wait to go for her afternoon walk. The whole office was oohing and aahing over her. Lola definitely knew how to work it.

Going on the afternoon walk with Lola and seeing the trees and grass reminded me of the repotting I had to do for my other cactus. In keeping with my non-pack rat mentality and also in consideration of how successful the first cactus turned out, I gave this cactus a major haircut. And, when I say "major haircut," I mean "major haircut." This is all there is left now. I'll keep you guys posted.

Now, there is something I must share with you all. It has to do with Mr. Nonny Nu. For those of you who aren't familiar with this individual, trust me, this is a very mischievous nonconformist. Remember the Ronco chicken from Wednesday night? Last we heard, it was shredded and stored in a bowl in the fridge, but what became of that chicken? Let's investigate. When I got home today, I opened the fridge and was welcomed by this sight.

I know what you're thinking. Nobody would just take the chicken and leave the empty bowl in the fridge! Yes, 'tis a mystery. Incredible, but true, folks. But don't take my word for it--see for yourself. Take a look at Mr. Nonny Nu's refusal to conform to the "one fake name per person" SOP on the blog. First, he's terrence olivier. Then, he's delta dawn. Today, he went by his pimp name, Reverend Doctor Terry Valentine. Since the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will not let that get in the way of Mohammed's blogging. Instead, Mohammed will implement a "tracking system." Pan left to the new list in the margin of the blog entitled "Mr. Nonny Nu's Fake Names." This will be the running list of all the fake names Mr. Nonny Nu uses in commenting on the blog.

I leave you with this thought: Cats, they're just like us.
1. Cat listening to Stevie Wonder.
2. Cat listening to house music.
3. Cat listening to metal.
4. Cat listening to hip hop.
5. Cat listening to gangsta rap.
6. Cat on ecstasy and listening to techno. (Keep watching after the cat goes offscreen.)
(Special thanks to ogunsgirl for the above submission.)

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I Guess It Was Just A Matter Of Time

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a clutz. I am famous for tripping and falling in places where no one else has ever done so. So, three weeks into my running routine, something was just waiting to happen. Yesterday, I didn't run even though I had promised Coach Nelson that I would. So, today, I had to run. A mile and a half into the run, I tripped on a section of uneven sidewalk. It's a good thing I was battling 35 mile per hour winds today because I wore sweats instead of my usual shorts. Anyhow, I ate it and now I have yet another scar on my knee to get rid of. But, I went on and finished my full 4.5 miles.

Okay, so what I really want to talk about today is flowers. I happen to sit on the sunny side of a building at work, so flowers should be a breeze to grow in my office. But, no. This is what happened to my tulips, and this is what happened to my freesia. Note the lack of any blooms on the freesia and the complete lack of life in the tulip pot. I bought some yellow roses last week from Trader Joe's but they too have passed on. They are now replaced with these purple ones, but we'll see how long that lasts. Granted, the yellow roses did have gnat problems, but I've since acquired some "plant soap" and the gnats have not shown their faces since then. The one thing I have had some luck with is my cactus. Against everyone's advice, I gave it a major haircut one month ago. I re-potted it, and then lopped off all of its leaves, cut it down to size, and put it in the sun. But, guess what? It has made great strides since then with remarkable new growth.

It has been a real struggle for me in my neck of the woods. But, lo and behold, right next door to my office is Green Thumbs McGillicutty. Sure, she complains about how cold her office is, but her AFRICAN violets are blooming like there's no tomorrow. Even the reflections in the window are gorgeous. There are pink ones, lavender ones, and even *gasp* VIOLET violets. (Doesn't that just make you want to kiss your parol officer?) Apparently, the secret to her success is using 3 parts unicorn blood to 2 parts griffin saliva fed through a long-nosed hummingbird-style watering contraption. Ha! Now you guys know what to get me for Christmas.

So, let's see, we've talked about vegetable (plants) and mineral (sidewalk), so that leaves animal. As you may or may not know, I now have an office mate named Stubbie. In the morning before he puts his contacts on, he looks like this. In the evening, Stubbie's Godmother fixes him dinner before she goes home for the night. Today, I was talking to Stubbie and he asked how the blog was going. I told him that Tubbie said hello. Stubbie says hello, too!

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Well, well, well. We're open for business!

Ha! Success! Someone commented! And, like any other real business, I'm framing the first dollar that came in.



As an FYI, AgPig (pronounced "Silver Pig") is sister #5. Ob/Gyn doctor in the Army, stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. Baysee is her dog. This photo was taken on Baysee's first day home from the pound. AgPig called me that day expressing concern that she had perhaps adopted a dumb dog because Baysee didn't seem to get the hang of the doggie door. After several minutes of discussion, it turned out that Baysee had gotten neutered earlier in the day. AgPig, let's carve out your spleen and see if you can put yourself through a doggie door. Oh, wait, been there, done that.*

Anywhooo, AgPig shall now go down in history as the first ever commentor at The World of Nonny Nu. She will be the first member of Nonny's Hall of Fame. A round of applause, please! *claps while moving hands in a circle*

As to why (Frodo) Stillman isn't in the pictures from yesterday's hiking trip at Long Ridge, Frodo didn't want to be photographed. She's a photogenic gal who reminds me of Elisabeth Shue, but was shy that day. But now, we have a request for a sighting. So, Stillman, be prepared to be photographed next weekend. I bet you'll turn out just as nice as the banana slug did. I'll work my Photo 0.0101 magic, don't worry.

If anyone wants to post photos, please feel free to email them to me at nonnynu@gmail.com. If you include a brief description, I will weave that into the blog entry. Otherwise, I'll make something up for you.

Oh, and no, I am getting my coaching free from Coach Nelson, who will kill me tomorrow because I didn't run today even though I had planned to.

*AgPig had a splenectomy several years ago, but you'd think she had an eye-ectomy...
babbling brook
ocean

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Caution: Banana Slugs Are NOT Made Of Bananas.

For those of you not in the know, I have been trying to get a bit more healthy. Veggies have been scarce in my diet and, for a rabbit, that's a problem. So, I've taken up running, thanks to Coach Nelson who trains with me Tuesdays and Thursdays. But, on the weekends, I have to do a bit of something so that I don't fall all the way back to square one come the following Tuesday. (Coach Nelson gets grumpy if that happens, and I am worried that I will find Stubbie with piano wire around his little neck as a "warning." You know those Germans...)

So, anyhow, I've been running on the weekends, but this past weekend, I went for a hike instead with my good friend Stillman. I googled for hikes in my area and found a very good website. I clicked and read and read and clicked. Finally, I found one that looked like it would give me a good work out but wouldn't kill me. I decided on Long Ridge in San Mateo. It's 4.7 miles at an "easy" rating.

Of course, getting there was adventurous in and of itself. Yahoo! directions instructed me to take Big Basin (CA-9) all the way up to Skyline. So, I drove through little downtown Saratoga on Big Basin. Once I got into the residential area, the street signs unexpectedly began to read "Congress Springs" instead of "Big Basin Way." I doubled back and asked an old couple if I had gone the wrong way, but they said I had gone the right way and had doubled back the 6 miles for no good reason. GAH!

Finally, I arrived at the trailhead (which turns out to mean "the starting line"). Stillman, of course, was already there with her Giants cap and map--WITH NOTES. *rolls eyes* So, we hopped out of our cars and started hiking. It was like a lite version of The Shire. Cyclists instead of ring wraiths threatened to run us over. Early on, we spotted a banana slug. (It looks like a banana, but isn't made of bananas.) The trail narrows about a quarter way through, so I just had to follow behind Frodo Stillman. At the highest point, there is a nice stone bench where you can sit and admire the ocean--I totally didn't expect to see all the way to the ocean! The trail has spots of shade and sun, so it's a very good mix. In the sunny spots, there were a lot of wild flowers and trees in bloom. We even saw the California state flower. In the shady areas, the trees were covered with moss. It had just rained the day before so there was a nice little babbling brook to complete the picture.

As we headed back toward the trailhead, we spotted the same banana slug we saw coming into the trail. The poor dear had only moved around 3 feet in almost 3 hours. I asked Stillman if we could do a moderate hike next time, and she responded, "At this speed, we can do anything." Ha! That Stillman...

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